
Book ZMlill 

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The Night of Light 



A HANUKAH PLAY 



BY 

LOUIS KAPLAN 



A 




NEW YORK 
BLOCH PUBLISHING COMPANY 

"The Jewish Book Concern" 



Copyright, 1909, by Bloch Publishing Co. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. ^ ^^ 

Samuel Rothbaum : the Father. Y^J** in'{^ 



Pauline Rothbaum: his Wife. ^a\\ 

y their Children. 



>n 



Henrietta Rothbaum 

Joseph Rothbaum : 

Henry Hassburg: Mrs. Rothbaiim's Brother. 

Esther Hassburg: his Wife. 

Gertrude Wolfstein : ) ^^ ^^ , , ^ 

^^ ,,. >- Mr. HassbnrsT s Cousins. 

Morris Wolfstein : ( ^ 



STAGE SETTING. 

The sitting room in a Jewish home on the first 
evening of the Feast of Hanukah. In the center of 
the room stands a table, at which are seated a boy of 
eight and a girl of ten intently gazing into books before 
them. Near the table is a rocking chair occupied 
by the children's mother, who is reading a book. In 
one corner of the room stands a smaller table with a 
samovar and tea-cups, while in another corner is the 
candelabrum holding the Hanukah candles ready to be 
lit. On the walls are hung pictures of prominent 
Jewish characters. A nufixber of chairs and other 
usual furniture are also found in the room. 

The house in which the room is located is in the 
neighborhood of a Jewish synagogue. 



CI.D l^HOa*^ 



m\t Nt9i|t of 2Ii9l|t 



Joseph : {who has looked up from his book as cur- 
tain rises) : This is certainly a great book! It has pic- 
tures of giants and soldiers and all kinds of big men ! I 
wonder if there was a time when the world was full 
of great men and soldiers. If there was, I wish I had 
been living then to see them instead of having to look 
at pictures of them. 

Henrietta: (zvho has also looked up from her 
book) : That's all you boys think about, great men 
and soldiers ! You talk of them all day and I guess 
you dream of nothing else at night. That's why you 
never know your lessons at school. It would be a 
great deal better for you if you thought less of those 
horrible giants and cruel soldiers and more of your 
lessons. 

Joseph : Well, what do you think about that ! She 
talks as though she never spends her time reading 
about such things and looking at picture-books. 
(Goes over to her and snatches her book). The idea! 
Here she is, looking at a book of fairy-tales and sleep- 
ing beauties, and then she scolds me for doing the 
same thing. That's just the way with girls, they 

3 



always expect us boys to do things they don't do 
themselves. 

Henrietta: Anyway, sleeping beauties and fairies 
don't kill people like your wicked old giants and 
soldiers do. Do they, mama? 

Mrs. Rothbaum : No, indeed, my dear. But 
neither one of you is entirely right. There have been 
good fairies and bad ones, great soldiers and wicked 
ones. 

Joseph : Well, I never heard of the good fairies or 
the wicked soldiers. 

Henrietta : You don't want to, that's why. 

Mrs. Rothbaum : Come, come, children, you must 
not quarrel about this. You are both right in some 
ways and wrong in others. We have had both great 
men and good women. We need only to look at our 
Bible to find such good women as Ruth, Esther, and 
others ; and in the same place, we learn of such great 
men as Moses, and Abraham, and Joseph. {Joseph 
smiles and nods teasingly at Henrietta) Then there 
is that great soldier in the Bible to whom we owe 
this Feast of Hanukah, which we are celebrating to- 
night. Can you tell me his name, Joseph? 

Henrietta: (while Joseph hesitates): He doesn't 
know the name because it isn't found in his picture 
book. (She turns her face towards Joseph and 
sneers). 

Joseph : I do so know it. His name was David. 

Henrietta : {mockingly, and pointing at Joseph) : 
4 



Listen to that ! David, he says ! He thinks because 
David killed a giant he did everything else in the 
Bible! 

Mrs. Rothbaum : Now, Henrietta, it isn't nice for 
you to tease your brother like that. You must remem- 
ber that he is not as old as you are and shouldn't be 
expected to know as much. {Turns to Joseph) No, 
my dear, it was not David, but Judas Maccabeus. 
When papa comes home from Shul I am going to have 
him tell you the story of Judas, and I am sure you 
will find it as interesting as any giant or soldier story 
you ever read. 

Joseph: {turning to Henrietta)'. Don't think I'm 
going to let you hear the story when papa tells it. 
{Turns to his mother) When's papa coming home? 

Mrs. Rothbaum : {looks at her watch) : Papa will 
be home very soon now, as services should be over in 
a little while. {From zvithout is heard in muffled 
tones the playing of an organ and the singing of a 
hymn.) Ah, they are singing the Hanukah hymn at 
Shul now. Come here, my dears, and let us be still 
and listen to the beautiful song which they are singing. 

{Joseph and Henrietta leave the table and take 
places at the sides of their mother. All sit still and 
listen until the hymn is finished.) {A beautiful and 
inspiring effect may be obtained here by having an 
organ play behind the scenes and a number of voices 
softly singing the Hanukah hymn to the old, traditional 
tune. The music should be just faint enough to give 

5 



the idea of the strains coming from the neighboring 
synagogue. ) 

Joseph: {as music ceases) : What did you call that 
song, mama? 

Mrs. Rothbaum : I said it was the Hanukah hymn, 
dear. 

Joseph: What does all that mean? {Henrietta 
laughs and covers her face with her hands.) 

Mrs. Rothbaum : Henrietta, you must not make 
fun of Joseph that way. {Turns to Joseph) Well, 
a hymn is a song that is used in praying to God, and, 
therefore, this would be a Hanukah song to God. 
The word Hanukah is used here because this song is 
sung every year on this holiday, and because it speaks 
of the great victory which Judas Maccabeus won for 
Israel and thanks God for the help he gave Judas at 
that time. 

Joseph : Wlio was Judas, and what did he do ? 

Mrs. Rothbaum : As soon as papa comes home I 
am going to have him tell you the whole story. 

Henrietta : Aren't we going to light the Hanukah 
candles first? You promised me we would. 

Mrs. Rothbaum : Yes, dear, papa will also do that 
as soon as he comes. {A ringing or knocking is 
heard at the door) There he is now, Henrietta ! Run 
and open the door for him. {Henrietta quickly leaves 
the room, zvhile Mrs. Rothbaum and Joseph get up 
and move towards the door.) 

Joseph : {jumping up and down on the floor as 
6 



papa's voice is heard) : Hurrah, hurrah, for papa ! I'm 
glad he's home! 

(Mr. Rothbaum enters, leading Henrietta by the 
hand. Joseph runs to his father s side and takes hold 
of his arm.) 

Mr. Rothbaum : (smiling and looking at Mrs. Roth- 
baum) : Hello, mama! Good Yomtof ! (Mr. and^ Mrs. 
Rothhatim exchange greetings) These children are 
holding on to me so tightly that I can scarcely move. 

Mrs. Rothbaum : And they won't let you go until 
you promise to light the Hanukah lights for them. 
They've been waiting for you to do it. Then Joseph 
wants you to tell us the story of Judas Maccabeus. 

Mr. Rothbaum : Well, I'll be glad to please both of 
them and quickly, too. First we'll light the candles. 
(Walks toward the candle-holder) Let go my hands 
and arms for a few minutes, children, and watch and 
listen while I light the Hanukah lights. 

(Joseph and Henrietta gaze intently zvhile Mr. Roth- 
baum prepares to kindle the lights.) 

Mr. Rothbaum : (lighting the candles) : "Blessed 
art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, 
Who hast sanctified us by Thy law, and commanded 
us to kindle the light of Hanukah. Amen." 

(As he finishes Joseph and Henrietta clap their 
hands and jump up and down excitedly.) 

Henrietta: Isn't that pretty! I hope papa does it 
every night of Hanukah. I wonder if Joseph can 
count the candles ! 

7 



Joseph : Sure I can, but I am going to count them 
to myself. {Mr. and Mrs. Rothbaum look at Hen- 
rietta and laugh.) 

Henrietta: (to Joseph): Then you won't have 
anybody to tell you that you're wrong. 

Mrs. Rothbaum : Come, come, children ! That will 
do ! Hanukah is a time for happiness, not for quarrel- 
ling. Now papa is going to tell you the story of 
Judas. (There is a knocking, or ringing, at the 
door) Run, Henrietta, and see who's there! 

Mr. Rothbaum : Aunt Esther and Uncle Henry 
said they would be over, so I suppose it is they who 
are at the door. They were in Shul, too, and would 
have come right over with me, but Esther insisted 
on standing in Shul and talking to everybody, so I 
told them I wouldn't wait. My, but she can talk ! 

(Henrietta enters, leading Mrs. Hassburg by one 
hand and Mr. Hassburg by the other. Joseph runs 
tip to them and is kissed by Mr. and Mrs. Hassburg. 
Then the older folks exchange greetings very warmly, 
each one bidding the other a hearty ''Good Yonitof.") 

Mrs. Rothbaum : Take off your hats and coats and 
come and sit down. Here, Henrietta, put these wraps 
away. (Henrietta takes them out of the room and 
returns. Folks all take seats in various parts of the 
room.) 

Mr. Rothbaum : So you really finished talking, 
Esther. What's the matter, did they want to close 
up the Shul? (Men laugh heartily.) 

8 



Mrs. Hassburg: I am never in such a hurry to 
get away from Shul as you are. You men can hardly 
wait until the services are over before you get up and 
rush out. 

Mr. Hassburg: They do that so that the women 
don't get a chance to talk them to death after services, 
my dear. (Men laugh heartily again.) 

Mrs. Rothbaum : You men seem well able to do 
your share of talking just now. (Turns to Mrs. 
Hassburg) Were there many in Shul this evening, 
Esther? 

Mrs. Hassburg: Yes, quite a large number. Mr. 
and Mrs. Weil were there, and Mr. and Mrs. Solomon, 
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron. (These should be given slowly 
and deliberately* It is zvell to substitute for the 
names given here the names of prominent members 
of the Jewish community in zvhich the performance 
is being given.) 

Mr. Hassburg: There, there, Esther, don't start to 
name them all or we'll have to spend the whole 
Hanukah week here. (All laugh, except Mrs. Hass- 
burg. ) 

Mrs. Hassburg: (impatiently)-. You men have to 
criticise all the time, and you think your interrup- 
tions are clever. (Turns to Mrs. Rothbaum again) 
Yes, dear, there was a large crowd there and — 

Mr. Rothbaum : Here comes the story of how they 
were all dressed, eh Esther? Another week oi 
Hanukah. (Men laugh and look at Mrs. Hassburg.) 

9 



Mrs. Rothbaum : Well, we women keep our eyes as 
well as our ears open in Shul. (Women laugh.) 

Joseph : Why do you keep your eyes open in Shul, 
mama? (Men look at each other and smile) Don't 
the men do that, too ? 

Mrs. Hassburg: Sometimes they do, Joseph. 

Mr. Hassburg : Well, it's not so much a question of 
keeping your eyes open as it is what your open eyes 
are looking at all the time. We. men look at our 
prayer books and the rabbi, but the women usually 
look at other women and the clothes they wear. And 
it keeps them busy, too, don't it, papa? (Mr. Roth- 
baum nods and both men laugh.) 

Henrietta: Anyway, the women can always tell 
what's going on around them. Mama always knows 
everything that happens in every part of the Shul, 
(aside and lower) except when she is bothered keeping 
Joseph quiet. (All smile except Joseph, zvho pouts 
and looks crossly at Henrietta.) 

Mrs. Rothbaum : That's all right, Joseph. You're 
generally a very good boy. (Strokes his head) I 
think its about time now for papa to tell the story of 
Judas as he promised the children he would. Let us 
all be quiet now except him. Come, papa, tell us the 
good old story as you are so well able. 

(Children take their places at papa's sides or on 
small chairs before him. Others draw their chairs a 
little closer and prepare to listen.) 

Mr. Rothbaum : Well, once upon a time — 

10 



Joseph: Sounds just like a giant story! 

Henrietta : Or a fairy tale ! 

Mr. Hassburg : Ha, ha, they're watching you close- 
ly, papa ! 

Mrs. Hassburg: Be quiet, Henry! You are as bad 
as the children with your interruptions. 

Mr. Rothbaum : {laughing, and looking at Mr. 
Hassburg) : It seems I'm not the only person who's 
being watched, Henry. (Looking at the children 
again) But, to get back to the. story. I am going to 
tell it in as few words as I can, and Joseph and 
Henrietta can read it some day for themselves in their 
Bible-story books. 

Henrietta : But Joseph wouldn't understand it even 
if he could read it ! 

Joseph : I could so. Anyway, I may not read it ! 

Mr. Rothbaum : There, there, children, be still. 
Well, there was once a large and strong country of 
soldiers (Joseph smiles broadly) known as the Syrians. 
They were not Jews and did not like the Jews. More 
than that, they ordered every Jew to give up his re- 
ligion and pray to the Syrian gods. For a while it 
looked as though the Jews would have to do this or 
die, but there rose up among the Jews a band of 
men under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, who 
gathered together a very small army and fought the 
Syrians. Although there were many time more 
Syrians than Jews, Judas and his men won the fight 
and took the Temple in Jerusalem from the Syrians- 

II 



who had taken it away from the Jewish people. Judas 
cleaned the Temple and re-lit the lights which the Jews 
always kept burning when they had the Temple. Now, 
in honor of Judas and his victory, and the help which 
God gave them to win over larger numbers, we cele- 
brate this Feast of Hanukah, or Feast of Lights, and 
light the candles in our homes just as Judas lit them 
in the Temple years and years ago. There is the 
story as short as I can make it. 

Joseph : My, what great men ! I'll bet they could 
whip giants ! 

Henrietta: Gracious, will he never stop thinking 
about them? 

Joseph : (seemingly unmindful of the interruption) : 
Was Judas as great as David, papa? 

Mr. Rothbaum : Yes, I guess he was. 

Joseph : Were the Sy-Syrians (Says this hesitat- 
ingly) as big as the giant David killed? 

Mr. Hassburg : (smiling) : Why, my boy, they were 
bigger than that. They were almost as big as your 
father. (Folks look at Mr. Rothbaum and laugh.) 

Mr. Rothbaum : But they weren't as brave. (Folks 
now look at Henry and laugh.) 

Mrs. Rothbaum : (sighing) : Those men are as bad 
as children. I guess their throats must be rather 
dry now as they have done considerable talking, so 
I'll just pour tea for all. (Goes over to the samovar 
and fills tea-cups) (Meanwhile talks to children) 
Now, children, you know the story and you can under- 

12 



stand why they sang that beautiful song which we 
heard from the Shul this evening. 

Mrs. Hassburg: I'm glad you were able to hear it, 
for the singing did sound very pretty to-night. Every- 
body seemed to be so happy and cheerful, and it made 
their singing so hearty and good. As usual, Cousins 
Gertrude and Morris led the singing and their voices 
could be heard far above the rest. {To mama) Did 
I tell you that I saw both of them after services and 
they told me they were coming over here this evening. 
I thought they would be here before this. 

Mrs. Rothbaum : {as she passes tea around) : No, 
you did not tell me. But I do hope they will come. 
I always like to see them and have them sing for us 
and the children. 

Mr. Hassburg: Aunt Esther did so much talking 
after services this evening that she couldn't be ex- 
pected to remember much of it. It's a good thing 
to send messages with women, especially if you care 
to have them delivered on time, eh papa? 

Mr. Rothbaum: Looks that way, doesn't it? {Men 
laugh heartily.) 

Mrs. Rothbaum : Never mind, we'll be glad enough 
to have Cousins Gertrude and Morris without any 
previous announcement. {Knocking, or ringing, is 
heard at the door) Run, Henrietta, and open the door. 
I suppose it is Gertrude and Morris. {Henrietta leaves 
room) We'll have a regular little family party before 

13 



it's all over. It's just the way I like to spend Hanukah 
eve. 

(Henrietta comes in leading Gertrude and Morris 
Wolfstein. Joseph runs forzuard to greet them and 
is kissed by each of them. Older folks exchange 
greeting ivarmly as before, and bid each other ''Good 
Yomtof/') 

Mrs. Rothbaum : Take off your wraps and sit down. 
You are just in time to join us in a cup of tea. 

(Gertrude and Morris remove zvraps, which Hen- 
rietta puts away. Cousins then sit down and Mrs, 
Rothbaum gives them each a cup of tea.) 

Gertrude: You all look happy. What have you 
been doing this evening, Joseph? 

Joseph: (as though he did not hear the question) : 
You just missed a great soldier story! Papa just told 
us about Dav — , I mean Judas ! (Stands before Ger- 
trude zvhile saying this.) 

Gertrude : Now, that's too bad, Joseph. But some 
other time I'll come here and let you tell me the story 
yourself. 

Henrietta: (aside) : As if he could! 

Morris: I'll listen to it, too, Joseph, if you can 
remember it until we are ready to hear it. 

Mrs. Rothbaum : We did our share of listening to- 
night, for Joseph, Henrietta and I could hear you 
singing the Hanukah hymn in Shul and we certainly 
did enjoy it. But, of course, on account of the dis- 
tance, we could not hear as well as we should have 

14 



liked. I think that since the children have been told 
the story of Hanukah, Cousins Gertrude and Morris 
might now sing the Hanukah hymn for us and the 
children. I am sure we would all enjoy it. That's 
one tune that becomes more inspiring every time it's 
sung. Come, Gertrude and Morris, and do your part. 

Gertrude: (scozuling) : Oh, I don't — 

Mr. Rothbaum : You can't say no. I've done my 
part (throws out his chest) and you must do yours. 

Mr. Hassburg: We won't spoil your voices by 
listening. 

Mrs. Hassburg: But you'll spoil your own voice if 
you keep on making remarks. 

Mrs. Rothbaum : You and Morris start it, Gertrude, 
and the rest of the folks will join in. I think that's 
fair. 

Morris : Come on, Gerty, there'll be a family quarrel 
here if we don't do something at once. Then we surely 
want to please the children and help to make their 
Hanukah eve a happy one. (To the others) We'll 
be glad to have you sing along, too. It does me good 
to see the family together like this and we'll all sing 
our song of praise to God for permitting us to spend 
so contentedly this joyful evening of Hanukah. 

(The traditional Hanukah Hymn should here be 
sung, Morris and Gertrude leading the singing and the 
others joining in. The ancient hymn or some modern 
arrangement or adaptation of it zmll he found in any 
Jcivish hymnal.) 

15 



NOV 8 190Q 

{The hymn should be sung zvith enthusiasm and 
freedom, as a reflection of the good cheer and happi- 
ness which is prevalent in the Jewish home on Hanukah 
eve. Whenever convenient, it zvould he well to have 
the singing accompanied by instrumental music of 
some kind, preferably a piano or organ.) 

(Curtain falls as singers are finishing the last line 
of the hymn.) 



icopr ^'^ 

NOV 



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